Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-05-12
WASHINGTON Letter
(FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE
w AcuINnrnN May @ 1887

SSSASS~~Z-
FRoM OUR REGULAR CoRREspoNDENT.)
WASHINGTON. MAY 8, 1887.
The Cabinet officers are enthusiastic
in praise of their Southern trip to attend
the unwilling of the Calhoun statue.
The orator of the occasion, Secretary
Lamar, has been afflicted with neural
sic ailments since his rettfn, but he is
none the less charmed with the centre Of
earthquakes and its people. 10 some
of the party Charleston was an old &C
uuaintance, but with the Postmaster
General, Secretary of the Treasury,
and Senator Voorhees, it was Il first visit
and they fell fairly in love with the
delicious atmosphere, royal hospitality
and fine people of the old city. Mr..
Villas remarked that he was prepared to
find very superior people in that arlsfo-
cratic old Southern stronghold, but that
he was quite surprised to find such a
generel high tone prevailing among a
large portion of the population.
Eqxlly delighted with the National
Capital will be the thousands of visitors
who will flock here during the present
month. OF course these crowds Of strang-
ers from every part of the United States
will expect no hospitable fayors such as
were heaped in profusion on the dis
tinguished Charleston guests. They
will have to look out sharply for their
own breakfasts and lunchs and din.
ners and beds. But they will see the
most beautiful city III the world in the
month of flowers, and they can have Il
glorious time IN many ways, for Wash
ington is more than "a thing of beauty.
1t is by far the most Interesting city
in America, as well.
1t is to be regretted that the elevator
in the Washington Monument will not
be in active operation during the Ma
tional Drill, when SO many sight-seers
will be in the city. But instead of be-
ing lifted rapidly through the shaft
they will be compelled TO tramp up
and down five hundred feet of IRON
stairway by the light of candles held
by themselves. The arrangements are
complete for lighting the interior of
the Monument with seventy,ti incan-
descent electric lights, with which the
effect is very striking. The electric
lighting plant was provided for by the
appropriation for completing the Monu.
ment, as was also the elevator, but there
is need of more Congressional leg;sla-
ton and another appropriation before
either can be put into regular operation.
The Monument was lighted its ded-
ication, but few persons knew it, as but
few entered the Monument on that oc-
casion. Since then it has only been
lighted for testing purposes, and once
when in honor Of Mrs. Cleveland, who
made a trip to the top. The lights are
at the stairway landings, and are fas-
tened to bracket extending from the
iron framework in the centre Of the
shaft. The effect is very striking as
one looks up the shaft from the bottom
nnd sees these brilliantly illuminating
the interior Of the structure.
Wolkmcn have placed the memorial
stones in the panels prepared for them
in the interior of the Monument all
the way up, and the inscriptions on
them show with perfect distinctness in
the electric lights. When some Of the
cement was taken out in fitting in some
Of these stones, it was found to be as
solid as the marble surrounding it
Curiosity seekers think they ought not
le,vc Washington without having been
TO the top Of the highest structure in |
the world built by the hands of man,
and although the past winter was uSu-
ally Indictment and unsuitable for such |.
an excurSion, about two Thousand peo- .
pie truagcd up the winding stairway |.